Apparatus for opening bags



Oct. 23, 1962 E. HANDZEL APPARATUS FOR OPENING BAGS 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 24, 1960 F'||" 3 INVENTOR. EDWARD HAN D'ZEL.

-r-ronut-zv Oct. 23, 1962 E. HANDZEL 3,059,390

APPARATUS FOR OPENING BAGS Filed May 24, 1960 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. EDWARD HAN DZEL.

FIEG if 5 AT TOR NEY Oct. 23, 1962 E. HANDZEL 3,059,390

APPARATUS FOR OPENING BAGS Filed May 24, 1960 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 FIE. IO

INVEN TOR.

EDWARD HAMDZEL AT roam av United States Patent 3,059,390 AIPARATUS FER ()PENING BAG Edward Handzel, New York, N.Y., assignor to Rut-Son Products Co., and J. Rubenstein & Sons, Jersey ility, Ni, corporations of New Jersey Ffied May 24, 1966, Ser. No. 31,347 12 Claims. (Cl. 53-18?) The invention relates to apparatus or machines for opening bags to permit their filling with goods, and more particularly is directed to improvements in apparatus of the type such as disclosed in the patents to Gerbe 2,673,- 016, March 23, 1954, and Ruderman 2,770,084, November 13, 1956.

In these prior art machines, the bottom panel or ply of the uppermost bag in a stack of collapsed bags is engaged and held while a blast of air is directed at the mouth of the bag to partially open it. A pair of laterally spaced, channel-shaped members are pivotally mounted at their rear ends so that their forward ends may enter the partially opened bag to further distend it for the entry therein of an article passed between the channel-shaped members.

These prior art machines possess a number of limitations. Reliance is placed upon the size or dimensions of the article to be packaged to move the channel-shaped members about their fixed pivots; the pivoted members are swung apart by the engagement therewith of the article passing between them. Filling the bag with a plurality of small articles becomes a problem, for the articles must then be arranged so that their dh'nensions in aggregate may coact with the pivot members.

The channel-shaped, bag-distending members of the prior art devices are pivotally arranged on the machine frame so that their entering ends engage the mouth of the bag at an angle with respect to the adjoining sides of the bag, rather than extending in parallelism with the sides of the bags. As a result, while the peripheral edge of the bags mouth may be fully distended, the sides of the bag adjacent the edge are not supported and may assume a reduced cross-sectional area, thereby causing a portion of the bags capacity to be lost for filling. Also, what holding upon the bag is exercised by the channel-shaped members depends upon the frictional engagement of the channel-shaped members with the bag. Even where the article pushed between the channel-shaped members is dimensioned to cause firm engagement between the members and the bag, such frictional engagement does not satisfactorily serve to hold the bag; frictional engagement between a smooth metal surface and a coated bag does not afford effective securing means.

When the size or shape of the article to be packaged is changed, thereby requiring a bag of different size, the channel-shaped members may not fit the difierently sized bag, and the members must be replaced; also, it may be necessary to change the points at which the members are pivoted. As a result, either another machine must be available for use, or differently sized channel-shaped members must be kept available for a change-over. Moreover, if channel-shaped members of different sizes are used upon the same machine, it does not follow that the machine will operate satisfactorily; the fixed means for holding the bottom ply of the bag and the same area of air flow directed at the mouth of the bag on a given machine are not suited to accommodate a variety of bag sizes.

The present invention is concerned with overcoming the foregoing limitations of the prior art devices. Accordingly, an important object of the invention is to provide a bag-opening machine which, on the same machine and without removing and replacing of any of the parts, will accommodate bags having a large range of sizes or capacity.

Another object of the invention is to provide a bagopening machine which enables adjusting the means for engaging and holding the bottom panel of a bag, varying the area of air flow directed at the mouth of the bag, and adjusting the means for fully distending the mouth of the partially opened bag, thereby providing a machine which, in all essential respects, will accommodate bags in a wide range of sizes.

A further object of the invention is to provide a machine in which the foregoing changes or adjustments may be collectively made with but one simple manipulative operation.

Still a further object of the invention is to provide means for distending a partially opened bag in a manner which permits the utilization of the full volume of the bag, such means being further constructed to securely and positively hold the bag as the goods to be packaged is transferred into the bag.

Still another object of the invention is to provide means for fully distending the bag which operates independently of the article to be packaged.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a bag-opening machine which by a simple adjustment of the parts thereof permits varying the contour of the bags mouth to thereby accommodate the packaging of articles of different shapes.

These, and other objects, advantages, and improved results of the invention will be apparent from the following description of a preferred embodiment of the invention, taken in conjunction with the drawings, in which:

PEG. 1 is a perspective view of the bag-opening machine;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the machine;

FIG. 3 is a vertical section, partly in elevation, taken approximately in the plane of line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a front elevational view, partly in section, taken approximately in the plane of line 44 of FIG. 2;

P16. 5 is a side elevational view, partly in section, taken approximately in the plane of line 55 of FIG. 2;

FiG. 6 is a top plan view showing a bag-distending member or arm in retracted position together with means for actuating the bag-distending arm;

FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 6, but showing the bag-distending arm rotated to operative bag-distending position and the related actuating means for the arm when in such position;

FIG. 8 is a partial, perspective view illustrating one of a pair of coacting assemblies, each of which comprises a bag-engaging finger, an air flow baffle, bag-distending means, and means for guiding the merchandise into the FIG. 9 is a partial, perspective view showing the manner in which the bag is held by the bag-engaging fingers and the bag-distending means preparatory to moving the goods to be packaged into the bag; and

FIG. 10 is a partial side elevational view showing modified means for increasing the capacity of the bagdistending means.

Referring to FIGS. 1 to 4, the bag-opening machine of the invention comprises a frame made of a suitable material, such as sheet metal, the frame having a pair of laterally spaced side walls 10, 10' and end walls 12, 12'. For the purpose of orientation rather than limitation, the wall 12 may be considered the front wall of the machine, and when the machine is placed in operation, it may be seated upon the horizontal top of a table or other support, not shown. Thus oriented, the machine has a top platform 14 which extends along the rear half of the machine, the front edge of the platform being designated 16. The platform is. welded or otherwise secured to short, inturned flanges 17, 17' extending inwardly from the side walls 10, respectively. A cutout or opening 18 is provided in the front half of the machine, such opening being bounded by the side flanges 17, 17 and a flange 19 extending rearwardly a short distance from the front wall 12. V

A resiliently mounted plate 20 is set in the opening 18, the plate serving to support a stack of bags A, which as shown in FIG. 3, are in flat, unopened condition. The bags may be of the gusseted type or in the form of flat envelopes. As shown in FIG. 9, each bag in the stack has a top panel 22 and a bottom panel 23, the bottom panel having a longer length than the top panel to provide a projecting lip 24. As shown in FIG. 3, the plate 20 is hinged at 25 to the underside of the flange 19. The free end of the plate is urged upwardly, and for this purpose a pair of laterally spaced spring 26 may be supported on a crossbar 2.8 for engagement with the underside of the plate. The ends of the crossbar are secured to the side walls 10, 19. The plate 20 is provided with a central, longitudinally extending slot 30. A member 32, having a portion thereof extended through the slot, is adjustably positioned along the length of the slot. The plate is further provided with a pair of laterally spaced slots 34, 34, through which extend the lower portions of the members 36, 36', respectively. The three members are movable in their respective slots, and will remain in desired location until moved by manual manipulation. By moving the members 32, 36 and 36 to appropriate position, the rear and side edges of the flat bags are confined in a neat stack. The front edge 16 of the platform 14 is substantially coincident with the rear edge (FIG. 3) of the resiliently mounted bagsupporting plate 20.

As shown in FIG. 9, the uppermost bag A of the stack has its bottom panel, or the lip 24 thereof, engaged by a pair of laterally spaced bag-holding fingers 4t? and 40; the resiliently mounted plate 20 urges the bottom panel up against the fingers. The bag-holding fingers are each respective parts of a pair of separate assemblies B and B, the structure and relationship of which will subsequently be described. An air blower 42 which, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, is operated by a motor 44, directs a blast of air to the mouth of the bag. The air blower may be suspended from the underside of the platform E4 or, as shown, it may be mounted upon the bottom wall 46 of the machine. The motor is connected to a switch box 48 by a suitable cable or line 59, and is turned on or off by the switch 51.

The assemblies B and B are mounted on the machine for movement toward or away from one another so that the spacing may be varied between the aforementioned bag holders 40, 40' and between a pair of means for fully distending the partially opened bag. Preferably and as illustrated, each of the assemblies further includes an air baflie and a guide for the goods. Preferably, the assemblies are symmetrically arranged on the machine for movement toward and away from the machines longitudinal center line. The assemblies being identical with one another, the description of one is equally applicable to the other, and like parts will be indicated by the same, but primed, reference characters.

Referring to FIGS. 4 to 8 and the assembly B, such assembly comprises the aforementioned bag-holder finger 40, a pair of bag-distending arms 52 and 54, an air bafiie 56, and a guide 58 for the goods, all of the parts being mounted for movement together. As more clearly shown in FIG. 8, a support member 60 is provided for the mounting of the various parts thereon, and their collective movement bodily in a direction transversely with respect to the longitudinal center line of the machine. The support member has a shallow channel 62 formed in the upper side thereof, such channel providing spaced, vertically extending, parallel internal sides 64 and 64'. The wall providing the side d4 is made shorter than the wallproviding the side 64. The side 64 is located for cooperation with the front edge 16 of the platform, while the side 64 is entirely positioned on the under surface of the platform 14. A laterally extending guide strip 66 is secured to the underside of the platform, as by screws 68, such strip being located so that the surface 64' may cooperate for sliding engagement with the edge 70. An L-shaped member 72, having a vertically extending wall 74 and a horizontally extending wall '76, is disposed on the top side of the platform 14 and connected to the member 6% by screws 78, 73'. The screws extend through the member 6% in the area thereof forward of the platforms edge 16, and into the horizontal portion 76 of the L-shaped member so that the channel member and L-shaped member are movable together as a unit, guided by the platforms front edge 16 and the guide strip 66.

The bag-holding finger 46 may be made as a separate part, and fastened to project from the front of the sup port member 60. The member 6% may be machined so that the finger constitutes an integral part thereof, as shown. The finger is in the form of a projection which extends forwardly of the support member.

The bag-distending arms 52 and 54 of the assembly B are vertically spaced with respect to one another and mounted for rotation together. In their retracted position, the bag-distending arms extend in a direction transversely of the length of the machine, as shown in FIGS. 1, 2, 4, 6, and 8; in bag-engaging and distending position, they have been rotated to extend lengthwise of the machine as shown in FIGS. 7 and 9. The bag-distending arms 52 and 54 are mounted for rotation with a vertically extending shaft 80, the shaft being journaled for rotation in bearings provided by a pair of vertically spaced collars 82 and 84. The collars are brazed or welded to the front end 36 of the vertically extending portions 74 of the L-shaped member 72.

The spacing between the bag-distending arms 52 and 54 is made adjustable. In the illustrated embodiment of the invention, the inner end of the arm 54 is secured to a collar 88 having an inside diameter slightly greater than the diameter of the shaft 80. The connection between the arm and the collar may be by welding or brazing. As shown in FIG. 4, a set screw 90 extends through a threaded bore in the collar for engagement with the shaft 80. By loosening the set screw, moving the arm 54 to desired spaced relationship with respect to the arm 52, and tightening the screw, the desired spacing between arms may be fixed. The lower arm 52 may be located below the bearing collar 84, whereupon its position with respect to the shaft 80 in a vertical plane is fixed.

Each of the bag-distending arms 52 and 54 are provided with means for positively holding or gripping the wall of the bag to prevent displacement of the bag as an article or articles are pushed into a bag fully distended thereby. Such holding means may take the form of a rubber strip or other frictional material secured to the side of each bag-distending arm. Preferably however, and as shown, such positive holding means takes 'the form of a plurality of sharply pointed, projecting pins 92 and 94-, which extend from the sides of the arms 52 and 5'4, respectively.

The shaft 8%, and the bag-distending arms 52 and 54 secured thereto, are rotated a quarter turn from the 7 position shown in FIGS. 6 and 8 to the position shown in FIGS. 7 and 9. Such rotation is positively and accurately accomplished through a gear and solenoid arrangement, the details of which are illustrated in FIGS. 5, 6, and 7. A gear 96 is secured for rotation with the shaft 8% by a set screw 93 extending through a hub 100 formed integrally with the gear. The gear 96 is disposed in meshing engagement with a second gear 102, which is mounted for rotation on a boss 194 (FIG. 5) on the horizontal portion 76 of the L-shaped support member and held thereon by a headed stud 106 extending into the boss.

A solenoid 1418 is secured to the horizontal portion '76 of the L-shaped member by screws 11%. The sole noids plunger 112 is suitably connected to the gear 102 so that when the solenoid is energized, the gear will be rotated, thereby rotating the gear 96, the shaft 80 and the bag-distending arms 52 and 54 thereon. The connection between the gear 162 and the solenoid plunger may take the form of a bent but rigid wire 114, one end being hooked around the shank of a screw 118 extending through the bent ears of a pair of elements 120, 126 fastened to the plunger. A nut 122 is threaded onto the end of the screw 118 to complete the assembly. To limit the travel of the plunger, and extent of rotation of the gear 102, a stop in the form of a set screw 124 (FIG. 5) may be placed in the path of an extension 126 secured to the end of the plunger. Return rotation of the gear 102, and therefore, the retraction of the bagdistending arms to the position shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 may be accomplished by a return spring 128. The spring is fastened at one end to a pin 130 extending from the lower side of the gear, and the other end may be fastened between the base of the solenoid and one of the screws 110 holding the solenoid to the element 76, as shown. A pair of flexible conductors 132, 134 extend from the solenoid to the switch box 48, and a foot pedal switch 136 (FIG. 1) connected to the switch box by conductors in the line 138 may be used to trip the solenoid.

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 8, the air bafile 56 is secured to the front face of the support member 60. In addition to the adjustment in the area of air how to the bag provided by the spacing between bafiies when the coaeting assemblies B and B are moved toward or away from one another, the air bailies are each further adjustably related with their respective assemblies. As shown, the air baffle plate 56 (and its counterpart 56) is provided with a laterally extending slot 140 through which extends the shank of a headed screw 142. Loosening the screw permits its movement and further lateral adjustment, whereupon the screw is then tightened.

The vertically disposed portions 74, 74' of the L- shaped support members 72, 72 of the assemblies act to guide the merchandise placed on top of the platform 14 for sliding movement into the bag when fully extended by the bag-distending arms. If desired, and as shown, these guides may be provided with respective extensions 144 and 144', the connections being made by flat head screws 146 (FIG. 5) to provide a flush, smooth surface. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, an L- shaped cover 147 may be provided to protect the solenoid and gear assembly from dust.

In order that the assemblies B and B, and the various described parts thereof may have their positional relationship adjusted with respect to one another, or with respect to the longitudinal center line of the machine, a screw member 148 is mounted beneath the platform. The screw member extends laterally or widthwise of the machine. As best shown in FIG. 4, the screw member has one end thereof journaled in a bearing provided by a stationary bearing bracket 150. The bearing bracket is suspended from the lower side of the platform 14 and secured thereto by screws 152 extending through ears provided by the bracket and into the platform. Similarly, a fixed bearing bracket 156 is provided for the other end of the screw member, this bracket also being secured to the underside of the platform, as by screws 158. An end of the screw member 148 is provided with a knurled knob 16%, the screw extending through an opening 162 in the side wall 111' to the outside of the machine frame. As shown in FIG. 4, the screw 148 is oppositely threaded at 164 and 166 between its respective ends and its central portion. The assembly B is connected to the threaded portion of one hand by an internally threaded bracket 168, and the assembly B has a similar connection with the portion of the screw of opposite hand by the internally threaded bracket 168'. The brackets are fastened to their respective assemblies by screws 170 and 172 extending through portions of each bracket and into the support member 60 and 60.

By simply turning the knob 160', the assemblies B and B will move toward or away from one another, thereby adjusting the lateral spacing between the bag holding fingers 40 and 40, the spacing between the bagdistending arms 52, 54 with respect to arms 52, 54', the spacing between the air baffle 56, 56', and the spacing between the guides 74, 74. The area of air flow from the blower 42 directed to the mouth of the bag of selected size may be further adjusted by the described independent adjustment of the air baffles 56 and 56' with regard to their respective assemblies. The vertical spacing between each pair of bag-distending arms 52,

54 land 52, 54' may be adjusted to provide the desired contour for the mouth opening of the bag. In fact, the vertical spacing between a pair of arms of one assembly may be made so that they are a different distance apart in a vertical plane than the distance between the arms of the other assembly to thereby provide a mouth opening of irregular or trapezoidal shape, if desired.

The bag-distending arms operate independently of the particular article or articles being packaged. If desired, a plurality of small articles may be pushed between the guides and into the bag fully distended by the arms, for the rotation of the bag-distending arms into the partially opened bag is actuated by the described gear, solenoid and switch arrangements, and are not dependent for their movement upon an article to be packaged of selected dimensions. When the article or articles are pushed into the fully distended bag, as shown in FIG. 9, the bag is held against displacement in a longitudinal direction by the pins $2, 94 and 92, 94', which pierce the adjoining bag material. The bag-distending arms are sufficiently short so that the small holes in the bag made by the pins do not interfere with the holding capacity of the bag; the small punctures in the walls of the bag are in the area immediately adjacent the mouth of the bag, and this area being subsequently heat sealed. The bag-distending arms, in their operative and bag-engaging position fully distend and shape the mouth of the bag to desired contour, also supporting the adjacent side walls in parallelism, thereby furnishing full filling capacity for the bag.

It will be apparent that the bag-opening machine of the invention will accommodate a wide range of bag sizes for the packaging of articles of various sizes and shapes. The capability of the machine includes the proper area of air flow for partially opening bags of the size selected, as well as the proper relationship of bagholding fingers and bag-distending arms for such selected bag size.

PEG. 10 illustrates a modification of the invention which atfords an even greater measure of adjustability for the shaping of the bags mouth opening. An extension 174 is provided for each of the vertical shafts so that the vertically adjustable bag-distending arm, designated 176, may be spaced from the lower bag-distending arm an increased distance. The top of the shaft 80 may be provided with a threaded portion which is received in a mating internally threaded bore at the lower end of the extension to provide the connection of shaft and extension. A set screw 178 is used to secure the bagdistending arm to the extension in desired adjusted position.

It is believed that the advantages and improved results afforded by the bag-opening machine of the invention will be apparent from the foregoing detailed description of a preferred embodiment of the invention. It will be understood that various modifications and changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as sought to be defined in the following claims.

7 I claim: 1. In a machine for opening bags comprising means for supporting a flat, unopened bag and means for directing air at the mouth of the bag to partially open same,

the improvement comprising a pair of laterally spaced assemblies, reach of said assemblies comprising a finger for engaging the bottom panel of the bag, and a pair of spaced bag-distending arms mounted for rotation together to enter a partially opened bag and fully distend same, gear.means actuated by a solenoid to rotate said bagdistending arms to bag-entry position, one of said arms being mounted for movement and secured adjustment with respect to the other arm, and screw means coacting with the assemblies for adjusting the lateral spacing between said assemblies to thereby adjust the spacing between their respective bag-engaging fingers and pairs of bag-distending arms.

2. In a machine for opening bags comprising means for supporting a flat, unopened bag and means for directing air at the mouth of the bag to partially open same,

the improvement comprising a pair of laterally spaced assemblies, each of said assemblies comprising a finger for engaging the bottom panel of the bag, and a pair of spaced bag-distending arms mounted for rotation together to enter a partially opened bag and fully distend same, gear means actuated by a solenoid to rotate said bagdistending arms to bag-entry position, at least one of said arms being provided with projecting pins to positively hold the bag, one of said arms being mounted for movement and secured adjustment with respect to the other arm, and screw means coacting with the assemblies for adjusting the lateral spacing between said assemblies to thereby adjust the spacing between their respective bagengaging fingers and pairs of bag-distending arms.

3. In a machine for opening bags comprising means for supporting a fiat, unopened bag and means for directing air at the mouth of the bag to partially open same, the improvement comprising a pair of laterally spaced assemblies, each of said assemblies comprising a finger for engaging the bottom panel of the bag, a pair of spaced bag-distending arms mounted for rotation together to enter a partially opened bag and fully distend same, and an air baflle, and means for adjusting the lateral spacing between said assemblies to thereby adjust the spacing between their respective bag-engaging fingers, air battles and pairs of bag-distending arms.

4. In a machine for opening bags comprising means for supporting a fiat, unopened bag and means for directing air at the mouth of the bag to partially open same, the improvement comprising a pair of laterally spaced assemblies, each of said assemblies comprising a finger for engaging the bottom panel of the bag, a pair of spaced bag-distending arms mounted for rotation together to enter a partially opened bag and fully distend same, and an air baffle, said baffie being mounted for secured adjustment with respect to its assembly, and means for adjusting the lateral spacing between said assemblies to thereby adjust the spacing between their respective bagengaging fingers, air bafiles and pairs of bag-distencling arms.

5. In a machine for opening bags comprising means for supporting a fiat, unopened bag and means for directing air at the mouth of the bag to partially open same, the improvement comprising a pair of laterally spaced assemblies, each of said assemblies comprising a finger for engaging the bottom panel of the bag, a pair of spaced bag-distending arms mounted for rotation together to enter a partially opened bag and fully distend same, one of said arms being mounted for movement and secured adjustment with respect to the other arm, and an air bafiie, and screw means coacting with the assemblies for adjusting the lateral spacing between said assemblies to thereby adjust the spacing between their respective bagengaging fingers, air baflles and pairs of bag-distending arms.

6. In a machine for opening bags comprising means for supporting a flat, unopened bag and means for directing air at the mouth of the bag to partially open same, the improvement comprising a pair of laterally spaced assemblies, each of said assemblies comprising a finger for engaging the bottom panel of the bag, a pair of spaced bag-distending arms mounted for rotation together to enter a partially opened bag and fully distend same, gear means actuated by a solenoid to rotate said bag-distending arms to bag-entry position, at least one of said arms being provided with projecting pins to positively hold the bag, one of said arms being mounted for movement and secured adjustment with respect to the other arm, and an air bathe, said ball-1e being mounted for secured adjustment with respect to its assembly, and screw means coacting with the assemblies for adjusting the lateralspacing between said assemblies to thereby adjust the spacing between their respective bag-engaging fingers, air battles and pairs of bag-di-stending arms.

7. In a machine for opening bags comprising means for supporting a flat, unopened bag and means for directing air at the mouth of the bag to partially open same, the improvement comprising a pair of laterally spaced assemblies, each of said assemblies comprising a finger for engaging the bottom panel of the bag, a pair of spaced bag-distending arms mounted for rotation together to enter a partially opened bag and fully distend same, an air baflle, and a guide for the goods to be contained in the bag, and means for adjusting the lateral spacing be tween said assemblies to thereby adjust the spacing between their respective bag-engaging fingers, air bafiles, pairs of bag-distending arms and guides.

8. In a machine for opening bags comprising means for supporting a fiat, unopened bag and means for directing air at the mouth of the bag to partially open same, the improvement comprising a pair of laterally spaced assemblies, each of said assemblies comprising a finger for engaging the bottom panel of the bag, a pair of spaced bag-distending arms mounted for rotation together to enter a partially opened bag and fully distend same, at least one of said arms being provided with projecting pins to positively hold the bag, one of said arms being mounted for movement and secured adjustment with respect to the other arm, and air bafile, said baffie being mounted for secured adjustment with respect to its assembly, and a guide for the goods to be contained in the bag, and means for adjusting the lateral spacing between said assemblies to thereby adjust the spacing between their respective bag-engaging fingers, air baflles, pairs of bag-distending arms and guides.

9. In a machine for opening bags comprising means for supporting a fiat, unopened bag and means for directing air at the mouth of the bag to partially open same, the improvement comprising a pair of laterally spaced assemblies, each of said assemblies comprising a finger for engaging the bottom panel of the bag, a pair of spaced bag-distending arms mounted for rotation together to enter a partially opened bag and fully distend same, gear means actuated by a solenoid to rotate said bag-distending arms to bag-entry position, an air battle, and a guide for the goods to be contained in the bag, and screw means coacting with the assemblies for adjusting the lateral spacing between said assemblies to thereby adjust the spacing between their respective bag-engaging fingers, air bafiles, pairs of bag-distending arms and guides.

=10. In a machine for opening bags comprising means for supporting a fiat, unopened bag and means for directing air at the mouth of the bag to partially open same, the improvement comprising a pair of laterally spaced assemblies, each of said assemblies comprising a finger for engaging the bottom panel of the bag, a pair of spaced bag-distending arms mounted for rotation together to enter a partially opened bag and fully distend same, gear means actuated by a solenoid to rotate said bag-distending arms to bag-entry position, at least one of said arms being provided with projecting pins to positively hold the bag, one of said arms being mounted for movement and secured adjustment with respect to the other arm, an air baffie, said bafile being mounted for secured adjustment with respect to its assembly, and a guide for the goods to be contained in the bag, and screw means coacting with the assemblies for adjusting the lateral spacing between said assemblies to thereby adjust the spacing between their respective bag-engaging fingers, air baffles, pairs of bag-distending arms and guides.

11. In a machine for opening bags comprising means for supporting a flat, unopened bag and means for directing air at the mouth of the bag to partially open same, the improvement comprising two pairs of spaced bagdistending arms, each pair being mounted for rotation together to enter a partially opened bag and fully distend same, gear means actuated by a solenoid to rotate said bag-distending arms to bag-entry position, at least one of said arms being provided with projecting pins to positively hold the bag, one of the arms of each pair being mounted for movement and secured adjustment with respect to the other arm, and screw means for adjusting the lateral spacing between the pairs of bag-distending arms.

12. A machine for opening bags comprising a frame having a horizontal platform for supporting goods to be packaged, means for resiliently supporting a stack of flat, unopened bags, an air blower beneath the platform for directing air at the mouth of the bag uppermost in the stack to partially open same, a pair of assemblies positioned upon the platform for cooperation with the bag-supporting means, said assemblies being laterally spaced with respect to the longitudinal center line of the machine, each of said assemblies comprising a projecting finger for engaging the bottom panel of the uppermost bag, a pair of vertically spaced bag-distending arms mounted for rotation together to enter and fully distend a partially opened bag, gear means actuated by a solenoid to rotate said bag-distending arm-s to bag-entry position, at least one of said arms being provided with projecting pins to positively hold the bag, one of said arms being mounted for movement and secured vertical adjustment with respect to the other arm, an air baflie, said bafiie being mounted for secured adjustment With respect to the assembly, and a guide for the goods to be contained in the bag, and a screw member positioned beneath the platform and extending widthwise of the machine, said crew member having oppositely threaded portions on each side of said longitudinal center line, said assemblies being respectively connected to said oppositely threaded portions, whereby turning of the screw member adjusts the lateral position of each assembly with respect to the machines longitudinal center line and with respect to each other to thereby adjust the spacing between their respective bag-engaging fingers, air baffies, pairs of bag-distending arms and guides, and a knob located exteriorly of the frame for turning the screw member.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,069,253 Henebergh Aug. 5, 1913 2,770,084 Ruderman Nov. 13, 1956 2,851,838 McIntyre et al. Sept. 16, 1958 2,952,954 Perrin Sept. 20, 1960 

